Mr. Speaker, each year during waste reduction week, elementary students in Port Moody—Coquitlam participate in my annual litterless lunch challenge. Many people do not realize that an average elementary school produces over 20,000 pounds of lunch waste annually. With my litterless lunch challenge, students are encouraged to pack litter-free lunches and make waste reduction a part of their everyday routine. This year, more than 530 students took up the challenge, and two winning classes set a new record by going 99% litter free.
Congratulations to Madame Boulanger's grade 4-5 class at École Rochester Elementary School in Coquitlam and Ms. Ogilvie's grade 4-5 class at Heritage Mountain Elementary School in Port Moody.
A big thanks to all of the students, teachers, and parents who participated in this year's litterless lunch challenge. I hope this encourages them to continue their efforts throughout the year.